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I Also Do 2nd Job Advancement – 1
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, Arizona. Yu IlHan stood up as if bouncing up the moment the airplane landed.
"What's the location of the troll dungeon?"
[It's the Grand Canyon.]
"Ah, shit."
His bad premonition just increased by a level! They said that they didn't come here to play so he could only believe in that for now.
Yu IlHan left the terminal while sighing and started moving. Only the pouring sun rays were consoling his heart.
As always, he wore a leather jacket and jeans, covered his face with a mask and ran assiduously.
As his physical ability had increased due to leveling up, his running was comparable to a sports car. Of course, as always, no one could find him.
While running assiduously, Yu IlHan reconfirmed the evolution criteria for the Resting skill.
[Sleeping 2nd class monster's hearts 0/500]
[Troll's blood 0/500 liters]
[Good sleep 100/100 hours](E/N: Confirmed, IlHan is a Snorlax)
[3rd class monster's magic stone 1/1]
There were two criteria left to evolve the skill. These were: the troll's blood he could get from the dungeon he was heading to now and the hearts of sleeping 2nd class monsters. Yu IlHan confirmed with Erta.
"You're sure that the trolls are 2nd class, right?"
[Although there are various types of trolls, in the dungeon I told you, there are definitely 2nd class trolls appearing. ... You, are trying to finish the quest in one go, aren't you?]
"Of course, why do you think I made a new weapon?"
Wasn't it to acquire enough strength to kill a 2nd class monster in one go!?
[Trolls definitely are monsters that sleep a lot. Instead, their senses are quite sensitive, but since you have the ability known as 'concealment' you don't apply in that case. Then the problem is.]
"The problem is?"
Erta spoke like it was nothing.
[I don't think there would be 500 trolls in the dungeon we're going to, though?]
"No, you angel!"
Although the Grand Canyon was known for its magnificent scenery and geological value, what it's even more known for is its enormous size.
Standing at the entrance of the South Rim, Yu IlHan gaped in shock when he saw the endlessly wide rift.
"Oh, my god. I thought it would be like summoner's rift."
[You lived on Earth for 1,000 years. Haven't you been here? What were you doing?]
"Wow, it really is amazing..."
Yu IlHan wasn't listening to her. No matter how the situation on Earth was now stabilized, as there were no people who thought to travel around for tourism right now, so despite its fame, the Grand Canyon was empty, and as such, this scenery was for Yu IlHan alone.
"It's really fortunate."
Seeing that Yu IlHan was rejoicing from the bottom of his heart, Erta didn't feel that bad. The fact that his eyes were glowing felt a bit proud of her.
Was this how a parent felt, teaching their child? When she, who misunderstood her own feelings by a large amount, was about to speak, Yu IlHan's words continued.
"If it wasn't for Erta, I would have gotten lost in this wide place looking for a single dungeon...."
[I hate myself for agreeing with you, even for a moment.]
Yu IlHan ran across the rift with Erta on his head. If he couldn't control the weight of the Cross Bag, he would have made a big dent in this beautiful mother nature, so solving the weight problem for the previous quest was a truly wise thing.
While running through the rift, which was literally unexplored, Yu IlHan thought about how large the Grand Canyon was, and how nature was being preserved, and what would be in this kind of environment. There was only one conclusion.
"I feel like there would be monsters even though this isn't a dungeon."
[There's one right there.]
That really had a point which made one think up of field hunting in games. What was especially similar was that monsters would appear occasionally over a wide area, and one had to run around all over the place in order to hunt.
It even made one wonder if they were doing a running competition or a hunt!
Of course, as Yu IlHan's original aim wasn't a field hunt, he was running towards the dungeon in a straight line without minding where the monsters were, so there was no loss for him.
There are only two kinds of monsters which do not get caught by the Trap of Destruction. Smart ones, and lucky ones, and their common point was that they couldn't see through concealment skills. In other words, they were very good experience providers for Yu IlHan.
[You have earned 333,395 experience.]
[You have earned the record of Lv 53 Sand Scorpion.]
Yu IlHan grumbled while piercing a scorpion with a light brown armor in a surprise attack.
"Why are sand scorpions appearing in a place without sand?"
[Starfish don't live on stars, though.] (T/N: This is originally a Korean pun, 'Dolgorae'(dolphins) live in places without 'dol'(stone), starfish is the closest I can think of…)
"Go apologize to every starfish(dolphins) in the world!"
He avoided the ones he thought he could not kill in one blow and killed the ones he could without restraint while proceeding through the rift.
He got off the developed tourism route and was going to his destination in a straight line.
Erta thought that Yu IlHan was overwhelmed by the miracle of mother nature, but Yu IlHan ignored everything on his path to his destination and was only running.
[Don't you feel anything after you saw this grand scenery]
"I do. It's fortunate that you're here."
[!@#$%.]
Erta bit her tongue since her heart pounded due to Yu IlHan's words for a brief moment, but annoyance welled up in her heart after she figured out what he meant.(E/N: Smooth IlHan, smooth)
As Yu IlHan stopped in place at that moment, she was shocked since she thought that Yu IlHan found out what she was thinking.
[N, no! Whatever you say, my heart won't even flinch! I'm a higher existence!]
"This is a dungeon, right?"
Of course, Yu IlHan didn't even notice that she had spoken something, much less figuring out her heart.
However, she couldn't ask him for responsibility, since the scene they were confronting was that amazing.
[...What, is this?]
"Don't ask me, you higher existence."
That was a huge vortex. He might have thought that this was normal if he hadn't seen a dungeon entrance before, but as he had experience in cleaning the Metal Heart dungeon, the vortex with a diameter of 7m in the middle of the Grand Canyon was not normal no matter how he looked at it.
[It definitely isn't a normal dungeon. I definitely remember hearing from the other angels that this was a normal troll dungeon when I asked for opinions on your reward.]
"Why do strange things happen wherever I go? Was I K*nd*ch* H*j*m* in my past life?"
[It's better than a human without the ability to solve this meeting this situation. Wait a moment. I need to observe it for a bit.]
Erta got off his head while sighing. Although she did run around in panic, in fact, she knew what was happening to a certain extent.
[I think this occurred due to two Traps of Destruction being too close to each other. In such cases, the dungeon will expand rapidly due to supersaturation of mana. Not to mention the gathered monsters, if something goes wrong, the unbalanced dungeon might collapse and affect reality. However, it isn't an Overflow so do be rest assured.]
As it was the angels who oversaw the process with the Traps of Destruction, this was a very rare occasion.
However, he didn't feel anything new since there were several 'rare' situations that have occurred on Earth.
"So that's why the dungeon's scale is so large?"
[It's not only that. It's highly possible that there are other monsters than trolls in this dungeon. Although it's easy for monsters of different species to fight each other, they do get along well if there is a definite enemy called humans. No matter how it's those ignorant trolls... As this place is Earth, where everything is strange including you, it's better to be careful.]
Yu IlHan retorted.
"Shorten it, Erta. You can do it."
[...The situation is that there are 2 field bosses.]
"Good, much more direct."
[I really think you're taming me...]
Yu IlHan ignored Erta's grumbles and confirmed the level requirement for the dungeon on top of the vortex-shaped gate.
Unlike the frightening scale of the vortex, the level limit was very low – It was only Lv40.
[That's fortunate. It seems the monsters gathered are weaker than trolls.]
"What if there are no trolls?"
[Then we can just leave. The only other entities that dungeons block entrance to those not meeting the level requirements re monsters. Moreover.]
After patting her chest, Erta spoke confidently.
[You didn't forget who you're with right now, did you?]
"That's why I'm worried."
[You really are too much at times! Although it poked where it hurts so I can't retort but please be restrained with your words!]
While imagining a more 'wild' dungeon than the one he had predicted, Yu IlHan decided to hone his mind.
It was very important to evolve the Resting skill. Not only was it the skill with the highest possibility to evolve amongst the other skills which looked like nonsense, wasn't it a very difficult skill to learn and raise its level to the point that Erta was surprised by it?
His senses were whispering to him. That although he would definitely meet another pain-in-the-back matter in this dungeon, he wouldn't regret it if he evolved the Resting skill!
"No pain, no gain."
Erta clung on to Yu IlHan's hair. He firmly gripped the Death god's Black Spear he took out from the Cross Bag and walked into the vortex confidently.
The dungeon's insides was a highland. After realizing that, the 'quite sentimental' higher existence, Erta grumbled quietly.
[The background became ordinary.]
"Wow, there really are trolls."
In contrast, Yu IlHan didn't mind something like a dungeon's background and started looking for monsters.
Although it was quite ironic that he found one immediately since the monsters had no intention of hiding.
Although no one taught him that it was a troll, Yu IlHan figured out at a glance. An enormous body and a saggy, gray skin; ugly appearance and two arms and legs like a human all told him that it was a troll that he read from books.
However, there was an absolute characteristic which overwhelmed all the other characteristics.
{Trrroooooooollllllllllllll Resssssttttttttttsssssssss...}
The troll lied on its back on a tree which was even bigger than its body and was closing its eyes while muttering something utterly ridiculous.
Seeing something that he might see with an old man in a market bench or pavilion, Yu IlHan spoke in exclamation.
"Amazing, it speaks English!"
[That's not the important thing. No, well, it is important.]
Not all monsters spoke monster-speak. It was the same with the mutant Flame Lizard monsters in LA, and it was also the case with the trolls right now. They were granted a part of a record the moment they appear on Earth.
In that process, some monsters might acquire a special strength, and might be restrained. They might become an entity to make up the dungeon or might become a leader to lead the group.
Some said that it was the mutation or stealing of records, and some said it was a whim of the Akashic Record, but as Yu IlHan would react the same way no matter how she said it, Erta just explained it like this.
[It's crammed knowledge. How is it? Direct, right?]
"Good, much more dir...whoa!?"
[But why aren't you killing it? That's no difficult opponent.]
"I'm waiting for it to sleep. Can't you tell?"
[It's sleeping, though?]
"Nonsense, it just rested on the tree saying it would rest..."
Yu IlHan turned his head to the troll while smiling when he heard Erta's short reply, and shouted in shock at the fact that the troll was really sleeping.
"That ability is a secret technique of the Resting skill, falling asleep in 3 seconds...!?"
[That's because most trolls have learned the Resting skill.]
Moreover, Yu IlHan falling asleep within 3 seconds after getting on to bed was a secret technique? Erta acquired the most useless knowledge in the world.
Meanwhile, Yu IlHan gripped the spear firmly, and checked his armor just in case, and quietly approached the troll seeing under the tree.
The so-sensitive troll was sleeping well while snoring loudly even though Yu IlHan was right in front of its nose. It was probably sleeping so well since it believed in its danger detection ability so much.
As such, it would be hunted by Yu IlHan.
With a cruel smirk, Yu IlHan swung the spear to cut off its head.
[You have earned 560,705 experience.]
[You have earned the record of Lv 72 Highland Troll.]
Despite the fact that it wasn't a critical hit, due to the effects of a surprise attack, he could hunt a monster over level 70 with a single strike.
Even though he hadn't even got his 2nd job!
[Sleeping 2nd class monster's hearts 1/500]
[Troll's blood 3/500 liters]
"This is easy."
[For you, it is.]
Yu IlHan put the heart he pulled out from the troll and the blood he extracted with a syringe in a special container and put it inside his Cross Bag.
Although the fact that he could only extract 3 liters of blood from one troll bothered him, as he had to hunt 500 trolls, it didn't really matter that much.
"Good. This means that I will have over 1000 liters of troll blood after I kill 500 of them, right? I feel reassured even now!"
[I beg you to drink the blood where others can't see you.]
Yu IlHan's troll hunt smoothly started like that. As all trolls had a max level Resting skill, it wouldn't be that difficult for Yu IlHan to fulfill the requirements of the Resting skill!
Meanwhile, after 3 days had passed since Yu IlHan and Erta entered the dungeon, in front of the vortex gate were another two humans and one angel.
"Wow, It's a ginormous dungeon but the level restriction is only 50?"
[Be careful, Na YuNa. We don't know what may happen inside the dungeon.]
"Let's go it. I also want to get the scorpion poison and go back to Korea fast."
"This is a dungeon date!"
"Didn't I say to look for another man?"
[You guys don't even listen to me, do you...?]
These people who were entering the vortex with a tension no less than that of Yu IlHan and Erta, were, obviously, the Korean man and woman that Yu IlHan hated so much.
Author's notes
The Grand Canyon! I want to go once, but as I have no experience in going there, the lacking descriptions within the chapter are from photos T^T
No, you angel! : A parody of a famous translated subtitles of a famous movie, Green Lantern. (T/N: Apparently, someone translated 'no evil shall escape my sight' as 'no, you devil')
Summoner's rift: Welcome to the Summoner's Rift.(E/N: Ew League)
Field hunt: something you get sad while doing it.
K*nd*ch* H*j*m*: The Kindaichi Case Files. Along with Conan, he's famous for murder crimes occurring wherever he goes.
Translator's notes
Enjoy~!
I Also Do 2nd Job Advancement – 2
"This dungeon."
While ripping a fully grilled troll hind leg meat to eat, Yu IlHan spoke.
"Why can I only see trolls?"
[It's possible that this dungeon is wider than you imagine.]
As Erta said, the dungeon was really astonishingly wide. Although it was a jackpot to find a monster every ten minutes in the Metal Heart Dungeon, Troll Dungeon was not inferior to that.
Even so, as this was no cave but a highland, if Yu IlHan arduously ran around, he could hunt many trolls in a short period of time; but to do so, the disadvantage was that he would get more active, resulting in faster exhaustion and thirst.
At first, Yu IlHan thought that he should finish this early, but now that it came to this, he now thought that something bad may happen if he kept going on like that, and which led to him currently taking a break.
He had removed the heart and the blood of the trolls and was grilling them to eat them.
The original purpose of dismantling(i.e. butchering) laid in eating the meat after taking out the bones and the hide! Yu IlHan could finally initiate the real objective of dismantling.
"Ah, delicious."
[To think you will satisfy your hunger with troll meat...]
"You want some?"
[No, thank you.]
"It's delicious though..."
Regardless of the fact that troll meat had poison or extreme poison, it was really delicious once he ate it.
Of course, although there was the help of some salt and pepper that he had brought, the meat didn't lose out to any other meat that he had tasted until now.
How should that taste be described? It was a little tougher than beef and had an unknown taste despite being sticky.
As he was grilling on the scene, he could not get rid of all the blood, but even so, the troll's blood was adding to the eccentric taste.
"I'll grill the arm too."
[You're going to eat a whole one at this rate.]
Leveling up will result in muscles being developed. Naturally, calories spent in activities would rise accordingly. Even mages who do not move around their bodies much would naturally eat twice their normal amount if they become high level, not to mention close combat classes.
As such, how would it be for Yu IlHan, who had developed his physical body before the Akashic Record had even come into contact with Earth? Although the time he could endure without eating was long, befitting of someone who trained tenaciously, if he started eating, it was normal for him to easily eat four to five times more than an average person.
When he was about done eating the grilled arm and leg of the troll, a joyful message came up on his retina.
[Extreme Poison Resistance Skill has become Lv2]
"Ooh, extreme poison resistance levels up fast too."
[That means that the things you're eating now are that horrible! It's poison!]
Of course, Yu IlHan ignored Erta's shouts. Didn't he have no problem since his extreme poison resistance was holding out well?
"I should have learned to cook beforehand if I knew other skills would grow like this. Lita always cooked me food."
[I take it that you will learn to start now.]
Correct. Whether he liked it or not, in the future, there would be a lot of matters where Yu IlHan has to fight monsters.
There will be a lot of cases where he would be stuck inside dungeons for a while, like now, and there would be a lot of cases where he has to spend the night in a cave without a single restaurant.
For such occasions, cooking skill was a must! He now refused to eat cheese flavored jerkies and beef jerkies.
"Shouldn't I be able to earn the cooking skill if I grill and mess around with all the things in my inventory?"
[You're looking down on skills.]
Exactly two days after that, Yu IlHan acquired the cooking skill.
[You have learned Cooking Skill. You can cook with a more variety of ingredients, using a variety of methods.]
"See, I got one."
[Khk, I forgot the fact that cooking with monsters would give you more proficiency points...! Moreover, the points when eating it too!]
Erta made an expression as if she was about to go insane from the frustration, but Yu IlHan was only delighted that he had acquired a new skill.
Now that he had realized that the excited expectations he had of dungeons were for nothing, he needed new stimulations.
Not only the cooking skill, his original objective was progressing smoothly as well. Until now, not only had he already finished acquiring 500L of troll blood, he also gathered almost 200 of sleeping monster's hearts. If he acquired 300 more, the resting skill would evolve.
Moreover, as his level was 48 right now, he would become level 50 at the time he would finish gathering all the hearts. In other words, he had expectations that he might be able to do his 2nd job advancement.
"Anyway, they sure don't appear."
Yu IlHan looked around him while ripping off the grilled troll shank meat. However, other than protruding rocks or dust, he could see nothing on the ground.
In a situation where it was deep into the night, a man was grilling meat with fire in the middle of the highland. The situation here was no different from him shouting 'please attack me'.
However, even though he had lit the fire several times and grilled some meat, there was not a single monster which assaulted him.
"Let's say trolls don't since they're lazy, but even so, isn't it manners to suddenly pop out from the ground if I'm blatantly acting in the open like an idiot like this?"
[So you are aware that you're doing idiotic things...?]
Erta, who never imagined that he was attracting monsters, asked back with a 'that's absurd' face.
[I thought you were acting as you liked.]
"Just what do you take me to be?"
[An idiot who aged in reverse.](E/N: Savage roast)
While thinking that aging one thousand years in reverse was a feat in itself, Yu IlHan explained.
"Trolls are sleeping anywhere they want but other monsters aren't like that, right? Even so, that doesn't mean there are no other monsters than trolls in this dungeon."
[That's true. Seeing that the level restriction of the dungeon is low, that's definite.]
"But no matter how I think about it, my passive concealment is maintained right now. Is that why they aren't attacking me? Or so I thought."
[Is that so.]
"So, I'm grilling meat here like this because I'm curious of their identities."
After hearing something that was not reasonable at all, Erta asked shortly after pondering for a moment.
[That's just an excuse, right?]
"Yeah."
In truth, he only wanted to grill the meat whether he would get found out or not by the monsters. As he knew that they would be weaker than trolls at least, he had no reason to be afraid either.
[I also thought that was strange.]
"Did you find something out?"
[Although it's just a hypothesis. In fact, it's the first time I've met someone like you.]
"Don't make my shoulders dance and quickly explain."
[Isn't it that the effect of the concealment is hiding everything, including the fire and the smell of the meat?]
"..."
Yu IlHan resented himself for thinking even for a moment that it may be true. He tried his best to counterargue against Erta.
"But that's distorting a physical phenomenon, no?"
[Skills are originally like that. You even deceived God, it's nothing new.]
"..."
He now couldn't counterargue against her anymore. Yu IlHan was becoming more and more aware of the horrifying ability that he was born with.
3 more days passed since then. The possessor of concealment that could hide even the smell of meat, Yu IlHan, was now confronting the 500th troll in front of him.
It was running around proactively until a few moments ago, but 5 seconds before, it stopped before at 4 seconds, it lay down and fell asleep at 2. As expected of a veteran resting skill practitioner!
However, that veteran experience would lead it to its death.
Yu IlHan looked back to his difficult past while pointing his spear at it.
"A lot of things happened before I reached this point..."
[You've grilled a lot of trolls.]
"Although the continuous sufferings have made me exhausted."
[You must have wanted to eat something else after eating all those trolls.]
"My desire for growth lead me here."
[But you couldn't stop because the extreme poison resistance skill and the cooking skill kept leveling up.]
Erta read his heart so correctly that he was shivering.
"Ah, really."
[Just kill it quickly.]
Even while grumbling, he obediently followed Erta's words and struck out his spear. As he had experience in killing 499 trolls, his spear flew agilely through the air like a viper, to pierce the softest part of the troll's thick neck.
The moment the troll's life was over without being able to wake up, something out of expectations had happened.
[You have earned 572,395 experience.]
[You cannot become level 50 without acquiring a 2nd class. All records earned before acquiring a class will be calculated after the class is generated.]
[With the achievements and records you have acquired until now, your available path is revealed. Please select a class. A test befitting that will be granted.]
[1. Blurred Lancer Expert]
[2. Battle Expert]
[3. Rookie Reaper]
[4. Berserker]
"Oh."
Although he was vaguely expecting it, to think that it would really happen. Yu IlHan became dumbfounded and read down the text while pulling out the heart from the troll.
Now, he had acquired all the evolution materials for the resting skill, but rather than that, the 2nd class had become something more important than something like an evolution confirmed skill.
[Is that so. To think that there would be so many branches even after setting your path in the 1st class. It wouldn't be like you to miss out anything.]
"Well, I'm quite sorry."
[You haven't been to another world, so it is fair for me to help you in acquiring a class. Let's have a look.]
Many possibilities meant exceptional ability. However, if one could not choose the longest and the most sturdy path, then one would be left behind by someone who walked on a single path.
While looking through all 4 of the classes, Erta thought about which class would fit Yu IlHan.
[First, Battle Expert and Berserker are both classes that I know well. Battle Experts are warriors who use all their body to attack, much less using all weapons, and berserkers are warriors who do not leave the battlefield unless he himself or the enemy dies.]
"Summing it up, both are perverts, you mean?"
[They are that strong. They are also classes that are hard to acquire. I even saw someone who acquired Berserker as their 3rd class. However, if you acquire it as a 2nd class, that means you can acquire a higher class than him.]
It seemed that Battle Expert came from Yu IlHan's ability in wielding all weapons freely, and Berserker from Yu IlHan pulling the roots out of the monsters several times.
As both jobs didn't seem to be affected much by mana, there would be no problem choosing either one.
[Blurred Lancer Expert is the next stage of your current job. Of course, as a unique job, it would only serve to enhance the current characteristics of the job.]
"Rookie Reaper then?"
[I don't know.]
Erta smiled bitterly.
[It's the first time I've seen it. It's obviously a unique job.]
"Although I did expect it, it really is like that, eh..."
[Unique jobs are stronger compared to normal classes. You should know since you have grown as a blurred lancer. However, there are also disadvantages. It's the fact that you do not know what that class does until you select it. ...You also know this well, right?]
"Of course I do."
Blurry spearman Yu IlHan nodded while gritting his teeth.
"I'm prepared to flip everything over if the skills of Rookie Reaper is something like a newbie harvester."
[Yes. There are such dangers.]
Erta nodded seriously. However, even after having said all that, Yu IlHan spoke while smiling.
"However, I will choose the Rookie Reaper."
[I knew you would say that.]
Truly shittily, Yu IlHan liked the things he did not experience, too much. A small risk, he would take it gladly!
Rather than the obvious jobs like the Battle Expert, the Berserker, or the Blurred Lancer Expert, the Rookie Reaper was stimulating him more.
In fact, Erta also wasn't that opposed to his such decision.
Classes, in the end, only appear according to the trajectory that one had stepped on until now. As there was nothing that was not worthy of shock from the things that Yu IlHan did until he was level 50, the job called Rookie Reaper would definitely not be a landmine. Wasn't Blurred Lancer an exceptional job even though the name was a little… off?
[Good. Do as you will. Bet, regardless of losing, right?]
"Yes."
Yu IlHan closed his eyes and strongly thought of the Rookie Reaper. The next moment, the choices other than Rookie Reaper disappeared in an instant, and green text started appearing on his retina.
[Rookie Reaper is a process to become a death god(E/N: oh shit son) to grant death to all things fairly, at the same time, being the only path in the world that was granted to only you, who has decided to wield death whilst still alive. You have to prove your qualifications as the sole(Yu IlHan) person by fulfilling the tasks.] (T/N: 'sole' here is written as 'Yu IlHan')
[Kill 2nd class monsters in a single strike in a surprise attack 0/100]
[Kill 3rd class monster in a single strike in a surprise attack 0/1]
This was the moment when the worst job advancement quest in the world had appeared.
Author's notes
This author still has not escaped the effect of his previous work – describing troll meat taste in detail.
Translator's notes
Yeah, re-reading this makes me think 'that's not hard at all'. But think about it, he's still 1st job, and has to kill 3rd class monsters with a single strike. lol.
Editor's notes
Should be easy, get that pile bunker upgraded to the max
I Also Do 2nd Job Advancement 3
"So this is why there are people who can't go above level 50 in all their lives."
[A bit like that.]
This was the conversation Yu IlHan and Erta had after he saw the text 'kill a 3rd class monster in a single attack with a surprise attack.
No, really, does it even make sense to make someone who's less than level 50, instakill a 3rd class monster?
There's a limit to unreasonableness, this was no different from giving a high school freshman, a university entrance exam-level question.
But thinking like that, it seemed doable.
[You're pondering how to succeed that criterion?]
"No, I do have a method that I've thought up of."
The criteria for the quest was in the first place, a surprise attack. Yu IlHan's attack power would increase by 40% due to his concealment passive effect because of his armor and his class, and coincidentally, he had the pile bunker with an enormous attack power right now.
The numbers weren't funny. Didn't he experience its destructive power several times already? It didn't look impossible if he did well.
"But right now, it's impossible. It's also impossible for me right now to raise my strength so there's only one thing I can do."
[And that is?]
"What do you think?"
Erta thought about it for a little. Of course, the conclusion came out not long after.
[It's mana crafting, isn't it?]
Correct. Yu IlHan was planning to use mana crafting on the pile bunker and the full plate armor. It might be insufficient with just that, so he was planning to go through a special modification on the pile bunker.
For that modification process, there was a need to sacrifice the 3rd class magic stone in his possession.
"Now that it came to this, I should give up on evolving the resting skill."
[You just managed to fulfill all the requirements, and it comes to this.]
Somehow, Erta looked more disappointed than Yu IlHan himself, so he quietly smiled.
"I can't help it. Even if you say it's the evolved version of the resting skill, it's not a battle-oriented skill, right? So, it's better for me to finish advancing to my 2nd class first and somehow acquire another 3rd class monster's magic stone, before evolving it."
[You're right. That's the reasonable logic. I was just a little disappointed.]
Mana crafting was originally doable without a magic stone. The reason why Yu IlHan needed to use magic stones in mana crafting was only because he had no ability to wield mana.
However, separate from that, it was also true that the effect of mana crafting would increase if one used a magic stone.
Just the difference between using a 1st class monster's magic stone and a 2nd class monster's magic stone alone was huge already, how amazing would the effect be if he were to use a 3rd class monster's magic stone?
To increase his probability of succeeding the quest, Yu IlHan could delay evolving something like a resting skill without hesitation.
"Well, then."
[You're going into work straight away, eh.]
"I'm hungry so I should eat first."
[I knew it... I really did know you would say that!]
Yu IlHan gathered firewood quite proficiently, scattered troll fat, and ignited them. He suitably chopped the troll meat to bite sized pieces, skewering them on a metal skewer, before he left them on the fire. Then, a fragrant smell could be smelled soon.
"I'm quite proficient in my cooking skill now, right?"
[Although it's what you got from cheating.]
Skills were truly wondrous. The cooking skill increased a lot when using monsters as ingredients, and as it grew, it automatically leads Yu IlHan on the more correct and delicious cooking path.
Of course, if he kept grilling trolls, then it would stop, but Yu IlHan had an ambitious dream to make all monsters into a dish. His final objective was a dragon steak.(E/N: Michelin star monster restaurant)
"Should I get to work right away after eating this?... It should be easier if a 3rd class monster appears in this dungeon."
[Although I'm not sure, I think that there is one.]
"What a coincidence, so do I."
A huge vortex entrance, the enormous area.
Yu IlHan was sure that there was no way a 3rd class monster wouldn't be here in such a blatant place.
"The author I respect, Anton Chekhov, of Russia, said this. If a machine gun appeared in the first chapter, then Rambo must appear in the 3rd chapter with his action."
[I will not tackle that line.]
While Yu IlHan spoke nonsense while eating troll meat, and Erta looked at him with fed up eyes.
Erta seemed to lift her head up before saying while giggling.
[It seems Rambo has appeared.]
"Rambo? A 3rd class monster has appeared already?"
[Think about it. Was it only a machine gun you took out in this journey?]
Yu IlHan thought for a while and ended up realizing.
That was true. The moment he left Korea, didn't he take out pistols, submachine guns, and cannons? Amongst them, there were some who looked like they should appear in this chapter.(E/N: fourth wall)
Na YuNa and her boyfriend who chattered about the Grand Canyon.
The moment he thought up of that, Yu IlHan's face crumpled violently.
"Shit."
[They're coming this way.]
Immediately after Erta said that, a truly huge scorpion showed itself over the horizon. Yu IlHan remembered seeing that thing, which moved incredibly quickly for a scorpion, not long ago.
"Like I said, why is a sand scorpion appearing on a highland!"
[Just save those people already!]
In the left pincer of a huge sand scorpion, with a body over 4m, was the white priestess-clothed woman, Na YuNa. Yu IlHan, who was clueless to magic didn't know, but she was holding on since she cast a defensive skill over her body, as otherwise, she would be snapped in half.
[That's why I said to be careful!]
"Kyaaaak! Help me! I will eat my vegetables starting tomorrow so please save meeeeee!"
"Shit!
A woman captured by a huge running scorpion's pincers; a guardian angel who was screaming right next to her; and lastly, an armored man who was following them. It was definitely her boyfriend.
How did they even end up in that kind of situation even with a guardian angel?!? He really wanted to ignore them, but as he saw it, the situation the woman was in looked very dangerous. In truth, there was plenty of room to her defensive magic, but as Yu IlHan was clueless with magic, he wouldn't know that.
Yu IlHan sighed before standing up and gripped the metal skewer with troll's meat juices and blood dripping off it.
"Why are they struggling with such a weak monster?"
[If one gets ambushed then they will become like that. Although, you would never know that since you never experienced it, nor will you ever experience it in the future.]
"I can sense hostility from your words...Hup!"
After retorting to Erta's words while grumbling, Yu IlHan postured himself in place and threw the metal skewer like that. Erta was frightened by that scene.
[You're going to throw away the only chance of a surprise attack with that metal skewer!?]
"Don't worry, that's Metal Heart right there."
[...Are you saying that you made a mere skewer with that precious metal?]
"Yeah. It was my dream to defeat enemies with metal skewers."(E/N: that's his next job, skewer thrower)
The metal skewer that Yu IlHan threw was affected by his max level shooting skill to pierce through the air sharply like a bullet before piercing into the scorpion's pincers.
As it wasn't made from Metal Heart for nothing, the metal skewer pierced such a hard carapace like tofu. It was truly an absurd scene.
{Kyaaeuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!}(E/N: now imagine a chibi scorpion with the moe eyes and blush)
How much would it hurt since its pincers were pierced? The huge sand scorpion momentarily couldn't endure the pain and rampaged. In that process, the woman in its pincers was freed naturally into the air.
At this point, Yu IlHan realized something new, and it was that even though he had attacked first, the scorpion hadn't noticed him. It seemed that because his attack was too fast and came from an undetectable location, the passive concealment did not wear off.
While thinking that he should research more into that later, Yu IlHan kicked off into the air. The scorpion was still rampaging around, and the woman was falling defenselessly in the air, so she might have been even more injured.
"Kyaaaak! Huh?"
Yu IlHan arrived next to the woman first and grabbed one of her arms before throwing her before she even noticed that her arm was grabbed. Of course, the passing opponent was the man who was running madly.
"Huiiiiiiiiiiiik!"
"Huh!?"
As the woman flew at him so suddenly, the man couldn't catch her properly. While the two were rolling on the ground after the crash, Yu IlHan kicked higher into the air and took out the death god's black spear before flinging the scorpion's head away.
[Critical Hit!]
[You have earned 668,938 experience.]
[You have earned the record of Lv 78 Giant Sand Scorpion.]
[Critical Hit skill has become Lv 9.]
Only after checking its level did Yu IlHan mutter in surprise.
"Huh? Its level is quite high?"
[Your senses are good. Didn't I say that it was a weak opponent?]
"Yeah."
It was really like that. Perhaps due to the thousand years of training, to a certain extent, he could sense how strong his enemy was.
Unless it was an utterly weak enemy or a too strong enemy, he could feel that 'this seems doable' or 'this is easy' and such.
With his standards, the giant sand scorpion was an opponent that he felt was easy to confront. It was actually easy to kill it as well. However, its level was quite high, so it was no wonder he was confused.
However, that question was solved by Erta soon
[It really was a weak opponent for you, Yu IlHan. It uses poison as its main weapon, but you have the extreme poison resistance.]
"Oh, that's why."
It was the same as when he fought the shadow leopard in the past. It specialized in concealment, and as such, the rest of its ability was weak.
The reason why Yu IlHan was able to kill it was also because of that.
This scorpion was no different. Its abilities focused in poison so it was weak in other parts, but as its poison did not work on Yu IlHan, he could hunt it easily.
After knowing the answer, Yu IlHan started dismantling it with a light heart. Of course, he didn't forget to recover the Metal Heart skewer.
"An ordinary sand scorpion tasted nice, so would the Giant one be even tastier?"
[You're planning to grill it here again, aren't you!]
While Yu IlHan was starting to dismantle the giant sand scorpion, Na YuNa, and her companion, Kang HaJin, could stand up, barely straightening themselves out.
As Yu IlHan exposed his own presence strongly while severing the scorpion's life, and was now even dismantling the huge scorpion, they could not miss Yu IlHan's figure.
"Ah, it's that persooooooooooooon." (T/N: if you see the end of the line lengthened, it's Na YuNa's talking)
[Yes, it's that child.]
When Na YuNa spoke, the guardian angel, Feyta, confirmed. After hearing them, Kang HaJin asked in confusion.
"What is?"
"You don't now, oppa? It's the person who took out all the monsters in LA."
"Ah, that armor! But he's wearing a mask instead of the helmet."
"That's cool toooooo! As expected of the Dark Knight of LA!"
"Pfffft!"
Yu IlHan coughed as he wasn't able to endure the merciless damage, while he was dismantling the scorpion with exaggerated but delicate hand movements. He really didn't want to get involved with those people, but he couldn't resist the temptation to ask.
"What? of LA?"
"As Feyta said, you really do speak Korean!"
Na YuNa replied with a bright smile. Now that he thought about it, they were conversing in Korean! It seemed that the guardian angel Feyta told them that he was Korean anyway.
Seeing that Erta was gritting her teeth, it seemed that Feyta would receive her punishment later.(E/N: Not the NSFW kind guys)
"The Dark Knight of LA! It's all the rage on F*c*b**k."
"What, was that...?"
Yu IlHan muttered in shock. No way, his actions in LA has spread around on F*c*b**k? When he seemed unbelieving, Na YuNa took out her smartphone to show him. His armored figure swinging around a greatsword was really clearly depicted.
"There are talks about you being a black knight from the American government."
"Some also say that you're an FBI agent."
At this rate, there might be talks about him being a giant fusion robot under the Pentagon.(E/N: IlHan is secretly a Gundam) While Yu IlHan was stupefied, Erta growled while gritting her teeth.
[I knew SNS was a waste of life! It's always those evil people who ruined everything! Always!]
"What trauma do you have with the internet to be so hostile towards it..."
Yu IlHan dejectedly retorted to Erta's words and confronted the handsome man and pretty girl who were looking at him.
There was one important thing.
Chekhov's gun really did shoot.
Author's notes
Chekhov's gun refer to 'foreshadowing', and the original line is 'If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off.
Sir Ferguson's continuous victories (T/N: No idea what this is referring to)
The Chuunin examiner in Naruto was cool… (T/N: Again, no idea what this is referring to)
Translator's notes
Enjoy~
While the rescued man and woman was staring at him, Yu IlHan was sighing and went into dismantling the scorpion.
"Ah, I was ignored at this timing!?"
"Such amazing dismantling skills."
The woman panicked and the man exclaimed at Yu IlHan's skills.
Meanwhile, Yu IlHan was thinking while dismantling. How to soclalize with social butterflies.
At that moment, *rumble*, a stomach rumbled. It wasn't Yu IlHan, but from the woman.
"I'm sorry, I thought of eating a lobster… looks delicious."
"Wow, you're thinking such things while looking at a monster which might have killed you."
Looking at the two famished people, Yu IlHan ended up instinctively asking.
"Should I grill it for you?"
"Yes!"
At Yu IlHan's words, the woman's expression turned bright and nodded. The man was making a fed up expression. This told them that he was the only(Yu IlHan) normal person in this place. (T/N: Again, 'only' written as Yu IlHan)
Yu IlHan finished dismantling and was taking the the carapace, well, not exactly a carapace, but something that didn't lose out to one in hardness; and the poison needle that it never had the opportunity to use, when Na YuNa hopped towards him and stood in front of the scorpion meat that he had piled up. After that, she put her hands together.
"Make poison disappear from them, yapp!" (T/N: 'yapp' is like 'avda cadavra')
"That's magic!?"
[The poison disappeared!]
Momentariliy, a light pink light appeared, covering the pile of meat before disappearing. This was the moment when the poison from the scorpion meat, which needed poison resistance at least to eat, disappeared.
[A truly amazing ability. I heard you were blessed by the Goddess of Beauty, but you really do have an amazing holy power.]
"*Spit*. I knew pretty ones were no good."
A certain someone checked on the bathroom mirror whenever he levelled up to see if he became any better, but an innate one was even blessed by a goddess! As always, Yu IlHan's unreasonable rage was rampaging.
"You saved us and even cooked the scorpion. Thank you!"
However, a pretty lady was thanking him with a bright smile so he couldn't get angry. Although she did seem to have a screw loose, she didn't seem to be a bad person. Of course, he didn't want to get involved much.
However, one thing he did mind was that whether this woman was putting her life and the scorpion meat on the same level or not.
"Na YuNa, how many times did I say that a misunderstanding might occur if you keep acting friendly like that towards a person you met for the same time?"
"We even fought together in LA though? Moreover, Feyta told me that he's a good person!"
"*Sigh*...Anyway, thank you for saving YuNa."
"Okay."
Yu IlHan nodded, took out the Metal Heart skewers before skewering the scorpion meat. But then, the woman approached him saying she would help, and made him frightened.
Just what was this extreme level sociability skills!? Social butterflies were always a problem, approaching loners without considering what they think. Even though his loner-power would be revealed in an instant and the mood becomes awkward!
"Wow, such pretty skewers. This is also the thing that pierced the pincers a moment ago, right? So pretty!"
"You pierced those pincers with a skewer? You even sliced its head off in an instant too. Just what…"
Unlike the woman who obediently exclaimed in praise, the man was slightly vigilant against Yu IlHan, but Yu IlHan thought that that was the normal reaction.
Moreover, Yu IlHan was no different to him in the sense that he was suspicious of them.
Yu IlHan was so curious. He only fought trolls until now from the moment he entered the dungeon, but how could they meet scorpions!
[Isn't that because the scorpions couldn't find you?]
"Shut up. It isn't. Please tell me it isn't."
Yu IlHan grilled the scorpion meat, which its poison was gotten rid of, after putting some salt on it. Not long later, a fragrant smell better than troll meat could be smelled. Even the man, who looked as if saying 'I want none of this', approached the fire due to the savory smell.
"You even have a cooking skill!?"
"Well, I do have one, but this is just salted grills."
The two starved people started eating as soon as the skewers were grilled.
As Yu IlHan filled his stomach already with the troll meat, he only ate one and gave them the rest, but the taste was amazing that it made him touched.
"This won't do. I will also kill the scorpions in this dungeon."
[I already knew you would say that.]
Scorpion skewers became today's hot item and they sold out in 10 minutes. However, while Yu IlHan was recovering the skewers and was cleaning them, Na YuNa approached him and asked.
"Aren't you bored alone? Do you want to party with uuuus?"
"No."
"Okay. Walking next to such a pretty girl like me in a party is happiness itself."
"No."
"Wao! Oppa, I was rejected instantly! Even though I'm so pretty!" (T/N: 'Wao!' is her catchphrase, a changed version of 'Wow')
"Good for you."
Kang HaJin laughed at her, before bowing down to Yu IlHan politely.
"I thank you for saving YuNa. However, there is a saying to not trust anybody within the dungeon. Even if that person is someone with a guardian angel, and someone who has saved my party member. I'm sorry, but we're planning to leave. Although I have nothing to repay you with right now, if you contact me with this number later, then I will definitely repay you."
Yu IlHan agreed with the fact that one shouldn't trust anyone within the dungeon. Of course, he had no experience going to another world, so he didn't know if it was true or not.
Thinking that he was a cold person, Yu IlHan accepted the id card. A company name he seem to remember from somewhere and the name, Kang HaJin. No, the id card itself looked very familiar.
That's it. It was the same id card as the one the Empress, Kang MiRae, gave him.
Although something sparked in his head for a short moment, as Yu IlHan believed that he would not get involved with them anyway, he ignored that.
"Okay."
He answered like that, but as Yu IlHan didn't roll around on the ground nor did he have a mud shower whilst saving them, he didn't plan on contacting them just for the rewards. Maybe this man knew that?
He might have just wanted to appeal that he wasn't a ruthless person, who runs away after being helped. He just looked funny since Yu IlHan could see what he was thinking, prideful and wanting to stand out in front of a woman. He even looked a little cute.
Befitting a loner, Yu IlHan couldn't hide his rude emotions and laughed while receiving the id card. Then, Na YuNa approached him while hopping, again.
Yu IlHan had to close his eyes when he saw the enormous pair of mounds which were unhidable even with the priestess outfit. She was stimulating the sexual desire of someone who doesn't react unless confronting a higher existence. She was really someone who was blessed by the Goddess of Beauty.
"Mine too! Call me any time. We're planning to go back to Korea after we get what we need in this dungeoooon."
"Na YuNa!"
"Kyak! There's no problem saying that though."
Na YuNa's id card was the same as Kang HaJin's. While looking at Na YuNa being dragged by Kang HaJin by the collar, Yu IlHan put the id cards he received into the Cross Bag. Then he muttered.
"Well, we'll meet in this dungeon again, obviously."
[Stop predicting the future.]
"Because I'm planning to follow their back in a moment."
[That's even worse!]
"But I have no choice if I want to kill scorpions!"
[Ahh, how pathetic.]
The fact that Erta thought he was slightly cute, at the same time as thinking he was pathetic, was a secret.
Yu IlHan didn't follow them right away. He didn't know when the concealment would activate again, and above all, now that he is not fighting any monsters right now, he was planning to finish the mana crafting work.
Only after Na YuNa and Kang HaJin's shadows disappeared over the horizon did he sit down and prepared to work. Of course, as this was no smithing work, the only things he needed were his body, the materials, and the magic stone.
"What should I do."
[Do what?]
"3rd class magic stone."
There were three things he needed to enhance: his armor, the pile bunker, and the ammo.
Although he could not acquire any magic stones in the Metal Heart dungeon, with LA's Overflow last time, and the trolls he killed in this dungeon, the number of 2nd class magic stones were honestly overflowing. He even had no hesitation in enhancing a one-time-use pile bunker ammo.
The problem was the only 3rd class magic stone he had. With which one should he use so that other people will say he did good? No, well, other people shouldn't know this.
"I decided."
The thing he grabbed was the armor. As it was already a legend rank, he thought that it should have the most growth if he used the 3rd class magic stone, and there was also the reason that the magic stone was from the shadow leopard, which specialized in concealment.
Didn't Erta also say so? That the result would be different according to the characteristics of the magic stone used in the mana crafting process.
He originally wanted metal spikes to shoot out from everywhere, but as he had to focus his firepower in one shot, he decided to enhance the performance of the armor itself rather than attaching such additional functions.
The characteristics that the armor already has, and the characteristics that the magic stone of the shadow leopard has, also, the characteristics of Yu IlHan himself were matching. In this trinity-like situation, Erta also looked forward to what kind of product will be born
Of course, if she said that out loud, Yu IlHan would become dejected, but as mana crafting was even affected by the abilities of the mana crafter, there was no way she could not look forward to it.
"Fuu."
Yu IlHan closed his eyes. The mana crafting, which grew to almost level 30 due to Heaven's Quest, activated and made the armor and the magic stone emit light.
'Everything else is okay. More secretively, more fatally. A power that befits of the path I'm treading'
Yu IlHan's steel-like will aligned with the power of the magic stone to lead it. The perfect affinity between the magic stone and the armor, on top of Yu IlHan's own affinity, made a shiver-inducing energy, as Yu IlHan had the same affinity.
A dark black light absorbed all light from the surroundings to increase its own size, before disappearing as if nothing was there in the first place.
[Shiveringly Hard Shadow Leopard's Black Fullplate Armor was completed.]
[Shiveringly Hard Shadow Leopard's Black Fullplate Armor]
[Rank – Legend]
[Defense – 5,300]
[Options –
1. Defense increaes by 40%
2. 50% increase in attack in a surprise attack]
[Durability – 2,700/2,700]
[An ambusher's armor made for the one who walks in shadows. The firm and secretive body movements are like those of a leopard hunting in the darkness.]
"Done."
Yu IlHan exclaimed in delight the moment he checked the options of the finished artifact. Seeing something he exactly wanted, he felt full despite not eating anything.
[That's because you already ate.]
"Shall I enhance the pile bunker then."
He ignored Erta's tackle. Erta was also wondering how he would enhance the pile bunker, so she didn't complain being ingored. It was as planned.
[Mana Crafting really did bring out results better than you expected, but even so, wouldn't it be insufficient to kill a 3rd class monster in a single strike? As you've confroned the shadow leopard already, you should know of their strength. Are you calculating properly, Yu IlHan?]
"Of course, didn't I say that I always calculate everything?"
[Don't joke around and tell me properly.]
Erta said while getting slightly angry. As he knew that she was looking forward to his work, Yu IlHan asked her back while smiling.
"Erta, do you know when the moment is, that a human becomes the strongest?"
[I don't know. Maybe when one's protecting something important?]
"You're wrong."
Yu IlHan took out the pile bunker, a few strands of Giant's Rubber Band, and 3 2nd class magic stones while declaring.
"It's just before death. A human becomes the strongest just before death."
And Yu IlHan thought that it was the same with an object.
That was because he had never seen a decisive weapon that wasn't a one time use.
Author's notes
There's a light novel called Kaze no Stigma. The main character uses a wind spirit, but he didn't awaken when his lover died, but awakened when he was about to die. Toika was someone who thought a lot about that during his middle school days. It's such a pity that the author died early.
The man and woman duo became mob aggro(before they knew it) for MC's hunt.
The answer was mana crafting! One hit for me, one hit for you with a pile bunker!
Translator's notes
Enjoy~! I can't remember Kaze no Stigma anymore… it was ages ago when I watched the anime…
EER will be on Kobatochandaisuki now.
Translator : Chamber
After Yu IlHan successfully enhanced the pile bunker and the ammo, he unhesitantly started following the man-woman duo.
Their moving speed was considerably fast, but it wasn't comparable to Yu IlHan's, and unlike the fact that Yu IlHan wouldn't be attacked by monsters even if he stayed still, the two had to confront scorpions and trolls continuously so it was a short while before he caught up to them.
"He should have come over to us if I tempted him a little more."
"You're dreaming.
"Unless he has ED, there's no choice but to come to us. Because I'm pretty!"
"Yeah, whatever."
A little after he chased them, he could hear the two chatting. The woman's high and mighty pride, the man's uninterested replies. The conversation made Yu IlHan confused since he thought they were a couple.
"But it's hard just with the two of uuuus. Wouldn't he have helped us if we told them we'll give everything to him other than the poison?"
"And if he says he wants that poison? Or if he asks us where we would use it? Moreover, the fact that we know of information about dungeons may sound unfair to others just by itself. We should always be careful with out mouths."
Hearing Kang HaJin's sharp counterarguments, Yu IlHan almost burst out in laughter. It was quite impressive that despite saying that he should be careful of what he was saying, he was saying stuff quite carelessly.
Yu IlHan continued following them. He could see Na YuNa grumbling while putting.
"We can just say that it's the reward from Heaven's quest. Moreover, no matter how I see it, he's a good guuuuuy."
"I really wonder how you grew up to that age that purely even with your appearance."
"That's because oppa and Mirae protected me!"
"No way."
It seemed they had their own circumstances. Moreover, poison? Were they here for the scorpions and not the trolls in the first place? Yu IlHan looked towards Erta.
"If you honestly say what really happened, I will forgive you."
[I didn't know. I really didn't. Didn't I already say that I thought this was a dungeon where only trolls lived!? So please stop looking at me as if looking down. It's making me frustrated.]
"I'm getting more suspicious. I even think there maybe another foreshadow to make me suffer, even though I'm moving while predicting them."
[Please stop. I think the word foreshadow might bring out a Gestalt collapse.]
Even while conversing with Erta, Yu IlHan kept thinking.
If it's poison, he got one after killing the giant sand scorpion. Didn't they want that? A poison of a different type? Or a stronger type? Although it wasn't a problem if they wanted another type, if they wanted a stronger one…
"Great, that's definitely a 3rd class one."
[I knew you would say that.]
Yu IlHan became excited. It really was a great choice to follow them! Although it was a little sneaky!
[I think a scorpion is about to ambush them.]
"Scorpions are mine."
While saying a line like a cheetah looking for a floured cookie, Yu IlHan took out a weapon. The thing which was embedded between the gaps of the gauntlet were the Metal Heart skewers.
[Can I get angry now?]
"It's only an experiment to confirm the strength and practicality of an item made with Metal Hearts."
[Not an experiment to research how you can pose yourself in a cool position with metal skewers?]
"You know me too well... Lita took several tens of years before she saw through me."
(T/N: Do remember that for the first few decades, Lita didn't stay with
him 24/7)
However, even though he was found out, he had no plans in stopping it! If it was such a weak resolve, he wouldn't have done it in the first place.
With a useless resolution, Yu IlHan threw the four Metal Heart skewers in his gauntlet.
The power of max level shooting added with the surprise attack option attached on his armor, 4 Metal Heart skewers pierced through the air with unbelievable strength for being simple skewers, before embedding themselves on the sneakily moving scorpion's head.
[You have earned 697,290 experience.]
"Ah, I need a specific value, but it was an instakill."
[I won't comment on that.]
As it was still a distance away from Na YuNa and company, the two didn't notice the sand scorpion. Of course, they also didn't know that Yu IlHan had recovered the Metal Heart skewers, and put the scorpion's body into the Cross Bag.
"But why does the angel on them not notice us? Moreover, they even got ambushed last time, why did she leave that alone?"
[Angels cannot bring out their full power on earth. Moreover, didn't I tell you last time? That there are not many things a guardian angel can do. Interfering the lives of humans too much goes against the rules of Heaven, so even if we know of an ambush, we cannot prevent it happening. Although, notifying isn't a problem.]
"So, in other words, you are useless."
[Kuhk.]
They kept following Na YuNa's back. While keeping a vague distance, and hunting the scorpions following them.
[You have earned 653,755 experience.]
"As expected, they don't notice me well if I attack fast with a long ranged attack."
[If you shoot machine guns in the same position, they would notice you. Skewer attacks are unexpected effective.]
Erta didn't want to acknowledge that, but a concealed attack while in concealment sometimes maintained the concealment.
More specifically, there was a high chance of concealment being maintained if the enemy doesn't now what it was attacked by until the moment they were attacked. Of course, it was a probability problem, so he couldn't believe in it fully.
[I will get angry if you start throwing skewers at 3rd class monsters.]
"I won't. I really won't."
And some time passed before the man and the woman noticed that something strange was happening.
"Why did the scorpions' ambush decrease?"
"I don't know. Maybe the terrain changed? We still see trolls sometimes."
"It'll be bad if even the massive scorpion disappears."
"It's not a massive scorpion, but the Giant Death Stalker."
Yu IlHan's expectations surged when he heard the frightening name, which sounded like it was definitely a 3rd class monster. However, the following conversation shattered his expectations.
"Can we kill it by ourselves?"
"It's a 2nd class monster in the end. Moreover, if we can't do it, then we will just retreat. You have the scroll right?"
"It'll be better for you to have it, oppa."
"You want to get caught by another scorpion-like last time?"
"That should have been the prelude to the meeting with the Dark Knight!"
"Shut up."
Giant Death Stalker was a 2nd class monster? Even though it has such a cool and long name, it's a mere 2nd class!?
He felt like grabbing Kang HaJin and shouting at him to confirm if it really was a 2nd class monster, but he barely held it in. They had no sin, only, Yu IlHan had misunderstood all by himself.
Dejected, Yu IlHan muttered with a tired voice. His gaze was heading over the horizon.
"Then I'll leave them that."
[That's? Oh, it appeared, eh?]
It was definite that the thing called Giant Death Stalker had a skill related to concealment. It was clear just with the fact that Yu IlHan had noticed it first, and Erta, a step late.
[Why don't you become the God of Concealment later?]
"If you make me into one, I'll make you exclusive to me and make you suffer all your life."
[I, if you can do it, then why don't you try...?]
Erta's cheeks reddened. Since she was resenting herself for thinking that maybe not so bad, she had missed the spectacle of the Giant Death Stalker charging through the highlands with a high speed. Around that time, Kang HaJin and Na YuNa also noticed its presence.
"Kuhk, the reason trivial mobs didn't appear is because there was a boss nearby!"
"Wow, so big."
"It's not the time to exclaim. Buff! Quick!"
"Yes! Make oppa stronger, yaaaapp!"
The incantation was as out of place as always! However, the effect of the chant was definite. The man holding a shield with an incomparable might from before was going towards the Giant DeathStalker!
"Iyaaaaaaaaap!"
Kang HaJin, charging towards the scorpion with a buff, was a grand spectacle, like Don Quixote to a windmill, and a warrior to a dragon.
Moreover, there was a feeble priestess behind him with both of her hand put together, believing in the man! Here was the main character of a fantasy.
Seeing up to that point, Yu IlHan became petty and turned his head away.
"Let's go. I don't even want to share anything with them if I lose to them."
[We should. Listening to them, they seemed to have the means to escape even if they encounter danger. It doesn't matter if you lose to them or not.]
It was the moment Yu IlHan turned his gaze away from the fight between the scorpion and the warrior-priestess duo.
He suddenly saw a truly huge shadow casting over them.
"Erta."
Yu IlHan asked.
"Do you think that troll is also a 2nd class?"
[Do you want my answer?]
"No."
Yu IlHan smiled while looking at the troll with a massive body enough to squish Na YuNa, Kang HaJin, and the Giant Death Stalker included at once.
"I'll kill it so you don't need to."
And without a shred of hesitation, he took out the pile bunker from his Cross Bag,
[Mad Heaven's deathblow pile bunker]
[Rank – Unique]
[Attack power –
5th stage : 6,200]
[Options – 50% increase in attack, 100% increase in penetrability, destroyed after use]
[Durability 1/1]
[A destructive weapon with all its might focused into a single attack. It has an unstable structure which would break down after one shot, but the attack of the self-destructing weapon will destroy its target as well.]
The mana crafting that he did was simple. He ignored the durability of the pile bunker and made it able to endure a 5th stage loading until a single shot was shot out. It was a truly daring action if he thought about the magic stones and the ingredients used in this weapon, but Yu IlHan didn't want to meet the worst results just because he saved up on some materials.
As even the ammo went through an enhancement with the use of a 2nd class magic stone, this pile bunker was no different from the most expensive consumer item on Earth.
"Wow, my hands tremble just holding it."
[Who told you to do such idiotic modifications?]
"But I don't think I can kill that troll without this much. Isn't that so?"
[That's exactly why I'm so frustrated. It's as if the things you created have all been created after you read the future coming at you!]
Yu IlHan only laughed at Erta's not grumble like grumble.
However, the situation wasn't that leisurely. Kang HaJin was already confronting the Giant Death Stalker, and the clumsy Na YuNa didn't even notice that a giant troll was approaching them. In contrast, the giant troll had already swung up the metal club to smash them.
[Yu IlHan, I wish you success.]
"What are you talking about?"
On top of this, there was a final sauce that he had saved up until now. It was none other than the superhuman strength skill! Yu IlHan activated the skill right away. Without the use of mana, all the muscles in his body squirmed before starting to emit heat.
The meat that Yu IlHan had eaten to the point of being overboard, became the power source for the muscles and burned. Although there was not a lot of change on the surface, he knew. This skill was a jackpot!
[Superhuman Strength skill is activated. For 3 minutes, physical abilities increase by 30%, but after the duration, your muscular strength would decrease by 50% for 10 minutes.]
He lightly kicked off the ground. He was already used to testing his jumping ability.
Yu IlHan, who jumped with all his might, shot up courageously, like a space shuttle full of humanity's will. In his two hands was the pile bunker, loaded to the 5th stage.
{Troll, hunts.}
Speaking something unbefitting of its size, the troll smashed down with the club,
"Huh? Ah, troll! Oppa, back! Come back!"
"What do you mean back! Whoa!"
{Kuhiuaaaaaaak!}
While Na YuNa, Kang HaJin, and the Giant Death Stalker were screaming after they grasped the situation.
"This is a 100% success rate ambush!"
Yu IlHan, who jumped all the way to the top of the troll's head, daringly smashed the pile bunker onto its head!
Author's notes
Gestalt Collapse : Mumble 'Snow white' 100 times. If you find the author after that, then the author will give you a question…..!
Translator's notes
CLIFFHANGER!!!!
Also, sponsored chapter, there's another one. click next chapter.
That was a waste of a cliffhanger…
Translator : Chamber
Editor : Ilidan
The pile bunker ammo which flew like a flash and struck like lightning, instantly crushed the giant troll's skin and bones before making its brain rupture, and not stopping at that, it even crashed all the way down its spine while destroying everything in its path.
After it smashed everything from the troll's head to its crotch, it embedded itself into the ground without losing any momentum, and due to that effect, a regional earthquake occurred and everyone on the ground lost their balance.
"Kuhk!"
"Kyaaak!"
{Kiiuaaaaaa!}
As mentioned, the pile bunker Yu IlHan was holding self destructed. This was the moment where his strongest weapon, which helped him at decisive momements, was destroyed completely. Until he could find an object to replace the Giant's Rubber String, he wouldn't be able to make another pile bunker again.
Of course, the pile bunker really did bring out the effects of extreme modification. There was no troll which would still be alive even after it had its brain matter crushed, spine destroyed, body bisected, and its heart ruptured, as of yet on Earth.
[You have earned 7,854,557 experience.]
[You have earned the record of Lv 109 Highland Troll Boss.]
[You have earned the title 'Not two hits, nor three hits, but one hit'. If you kill an enemy in a single strike, the experience earned and the possibility of acquiring a magic stone increases by 20%]
[Kill a 3rd class monster in a surprise attack 1/1]
Yu IlHan recovered the remnants of the pile bunker in an instant while in midair before landing on the ground safely by using the troll's corpse as a foothold.
Looking behind, he could see two humans and a scorpion who could not get themselves up properly due to the shockwave of the bone nail striking the ground.
If there was any common points between them, it was that they were looking at Yu IlHan with disbelieving eyes. Loner Yu IlHan, who wasn't used to receiving attention from others, shyly spoke up.
"Oh, continue with whatever you were doing just now."
"Like hell!"
The man shouted in frustration, but the priestess shouted as if afraid of missing this opportunity.
"If you help us kill that scorpion, we'll give you everything other than the poisooon!"
"Hey, this idiot. Whoa!"
It seemed that the priestess, Na YuNa, was sure that the man couldn't kill the scorpion by himself. This could be said to be a lack of trust in her companion, but could also be said to be that she had the ability to judge the situation cool headedly, unlike her clumsy outer appearance.
The man stopped bickering with the woman as the scorpion's poison needle assaulted him after getting balanced faster than him. Meanwhile, Yu IlHan thought about her offer for a moment before nodding his head.
"Okay."
"Yes! See, oppa!? I said he was kind riiiight!?"
"Ah, fuck. I don't know anything anymore, dammit all!"
Kang HaJin replied as if slightly relieved, slightly hurt, but slightly despairing tone before posturing himself.
"As YuNa said, if you help us, we'll give you everything other than the poison!"
"Okay."
Isn't that couple's relationship quite interesting? – With such useless thoughts, Yu IlHan took out his spear and postured himself. Then, at the same moment as the scorpion assaulted towards the man, he kicked off the ground.
Fortunately, the strength from the superhuman strength skill was maintained. He'd finish that scorpion off within that duration!
"Hup!"
At the same time as Yu IlHan flew at it, the scorpion swept its scorpion tail on the floor. Kang HaJin dodged it by jumping backwards, but Yu IlHan coudln't care less, so he just charged forward.
"Hah!"
Then he swung his spear with all his strength to slash the tail mid way!
{Kukyaaaakagagak!}
"Wao!"
"How's he so…!"
You should think about how to strike hard now, since the scorpion is rampaging all over the place, if you have the time to exclaim!
Yu IlHan really did that. The spearhead, which didn't lose any strength even after cutting off that thick tail, and struck the scorpion's head after slashing through the air!
"Oppa, attack!"
"Yes! Fuu, Chasing Strike!"
A skill! So envious!
Yu IlHan momentarily thought that, but Kang HaJin's skill, which struck the scorpion's chest with a bright pink light, was weaker than Yu IlHan's normal attack under superhuman strength mode. Feeling a crack appearing on the expectations he had of mana, Yu IlHan asked Erta in a small voice.
"Not all skills are like that, right?"
[Not all humans are you.]
Anyway, Kang HaJin did his role sufficiently. It was because his skill, Chasing Strike, was a special skill which would become stronger, affected by the attack which attacked the target previously.
When a chain of strong shock was applied, the Giant Death Stalker ended up falling into a stunned state, and Yu IlHan, who would never miss the enemy's slight change in sttate, didn't miss that opportunity and attached himself on top of its head.
"Huuuuup!"
His spear strike had already drilled a sufficient wound on its head. What was Yu IlHan's specialty? Wasn't it kicking where he kicked before?
As if being possessed by a woodpecker, he clung onto its head by clamping his legs around its head, before striking down the same place with his spear held in both of his hands.
"Wow, so cute!"
"Ah, fuck, I don't know what's what anymore!"
Na YuNa spoke a line that didn't fit the situation, and Kang HaJin, who once again received a buff from her, gave up everything and charged like Yu IlHan before beating up the scorpion.
[Kku, Kkuweeek!] (T/N: This is a little like 'yelp' in English, but scorpions don't 'yelp'… hence literal raws)
When the chain of strikes full of Yu IlHan's superhuman strength, and, although Yu IlHan didn't know, the buffed attack of a 2nd class warrior was added, the scorpion collapsed, not being able to endure having its most lethal means of attack destroyed.
Cruely, Yu IlHan didn't stop thrusting his spear until he was sure that it was dead.
[You have earned 2,479,989 experience.]
[You have earned the record of Lv 95 Giant Death Stalker.]
As they weren't in a party, the experience was solely taken by Yu IlHan. Kang HaJin, who only realized that the scorpion was dead after Yu IlHan stopped his attacks, made a bitter expression after realizing that they weren't in a party.
"Even so, we can't help it. It's a profit just killing the Giant Death Stalker safely."
"You're really really strong! It's the first time I've seen someone stronger than oppaaaa!" (T/N: Savage)
"Kuhk!"
Kang HaJin seemed to have a crack on his pride as a man after hearing Na YuNa's innocent comment. Of course, Yu IlHan couldn't care less if his pride was wounded or not. He started dismantling the scorpion the moment it died, and as they said in the beginning, he was pulling out the poison gland.
"Here. I've taken out all the poison within this thing's body."
"Wow, so clean."
"Thank you."
Kang HaJin, who expressed his appreciation obediently while receiving the poison needle and the venom sac, was a calculative man when it came down to it. In contrast, Yu IlHan went into working with the rest the moment their transaction ended.
Although there was no magic stone in the Giant Death Stalker, its carapace was absurdly hard, and the meat looked very delicious at a glance.
Yu IlHan finished dismantling it while humming, and continued on to the Highland Troll Boss, while Na YuNa and Kang HaJin were looking at him working with absent-minded gazes after they received the Death Stalker's poison, while Erta, was interrogating Feyta.
[You intended to receive help from Yu IlHan from the beginning, right?]
[N, no.]
[If you're honest, I'll forgive you.]
[In fact, I did intend that!]
[Angel Sleeper Hold!]
[You liar, *Screams*!]
"Wao, angel-nims seem to be close!"
"In my eyes, it looked like divine retribution."
"Wow."
At that time, Yu IlHan subconsciously exclaimed. It wasn't because he became satisfied after looking at the angels becoming closer to each other, nor was it because he got goosebumps after listening to the couple's conversation.
It was because a magic stone popped out from the giant troll's head.
"There is one."
[Angel Cross Choke, wait, what!?]
[3rd class magic stones are appearing already!? *Screams*!]
This was the moment when the opportunity for evolving the Resting skill, which he had lost previously, had come again, in a more perfect manner. That was because the 3rd class magic stone was from a troll, which had a Resting skill.
Although there was no differentiation on the types of monsters from which the magic stone had to be acquired from, it was needless to say that the magic stone from a troll, which had a closer affinity, was better than one from the shadow leopard.
However, he didn't need to make them aware of Yu IlHan's skill by evolving it right now. Yu IlHan cleaned the magic stone well and put it inside his Cross Bag before continuing with the dismantling of he troll. Forgetting about Na YuNa and Kang HaJin who were making absent-minded gazes at the flash of appearance of a 3rd class magic stone.
Around that time, the duration of the superhuman strength ran out and he suddenly felt extreme fatigue, but Yu IlHan didn't stop. His techniques were good to the point that it would sufficiently make up for the deficiencies in his strength.
What was amazing, was that Na YuNa, who was looking at that process, activated her skill suddenly.
"Make that person stronger, yapp!"
"Hmm?"
Yu IlHan spoke out in surprise. When the light pink colored magic, which came from her stretched hand, cameinto contact with Yu IlHan, the fatigue which covered his entire body eased up a little.
He thought that it was a recovering ability befitting a priestess, but what was more amazing was that even though Yu IlHan didn't show it much on the surface, she had noticed something wrong with his body.
"You have good eyes."
"Ehem!"
Yu IlHan could only say that sourly. Na YuNa obediently accepted his praise and straightened her waists.
The already plump chests were emphasized, so Yu IlHan turned his gaze to the troll in embarrassmnet. Only Kang HaJin was making a strange expression as he understood Yu IlHan.
"That's done."
The Highland Troll Boss was a treausre without wastes.
He was thankful that it had died in a single strike without any words, but not only had it left behind a magic stone, it also left behind a tough hide, strong bones, muscles and tendons which seemed like they were processable into Giant's Rubber Band, and lastly, blood which looked thicker than other trolls! Adding meat on top of this, there really was nothing to throw away.
Even though it may not have had the slightest intention to become like this, Yu IlHan would still express his thanks to him. He would even hold X to pay respects if there was a keyboard.
"We're planning to go back, but if it's alright with you, won't you come back with us?"
While Yu IlHan was being joyful over his harvests, a line which was out of his expectations could be heard. It wasn't Na YuNa, but Kang HaJin, who was wary of him at fist, who talked first.
"You should have noticed as you received Yuna's and my id cards, we're a Korean Clan, who's proactive as a small-scale team of elites. Honestly speaking, your fighting skills are jealous-provokingly good. To the point that I want to receive you as a clan member despite my pride."
"Woow. That's so good! MiRae will like it tooooo!"
Realizing that his words were an offer, Na YuNa became delighted while clapping like a seal. The angel, Feyta also brightened up.
[Yes. It's good to work together! It's an advantage of the race known as human race to fill what each other is lacking!] (T/N: The only thing MC lacks is his communication skills)
And Yu IlHan retorted with a kind smile.
"Don't wanna."
"*Groan*, although I did know you would answer that, you are quite firm."
Yu IlHan only smiled when he heard that, and didn't say anything else. Of course, like a loner, his insides were boiling up.
There was no one who could intrude on the territory of loners. Social butterflies would interact with other social butterflies, but loners would even reject other loners.
Filling what each other lacks? That really is an advantage in a group. However, Yu IlHan had never benefitted from that. It was because no one had looked at him until now.
Until now, Yu IlHan endured if things were lacking. Do you think I'll go over to that side just because you want to be together with me since my skills are exceptional? There is a limit to looking down on loners.
There was no way that Kang HaJin would know of the path and experiences that he had been through until now. It might have bee na big decision for him to say to come with him, and might have wanted him as a companion for real. Perhaps, he really did want to associate with him. (T/N: Note that Kang HaJin is around 30 years old (other world included) while MC is 1020 years old)
However, Yu IlHan couldn't accept his offer positively despite knowing that Kang HaJin didn't
have any malicious intentions. His twisted personality couldn't be helped. He will think like this in the future.
Unless, a huge situation where he has to change his reasoning occurs.
"Hiing, I want to hunt together though, it sounds like so much fun though."
"He doesn't like it. He's so strong, so we'll be able to meet him again in the future. Try tempting him again then."
"Uu… Okaaaay."
Conversing such things blatantly in front of the person in question, Kang HaJin bowed his head with a smile.
"Now that I think about it, you saved us yet again just now. If you contact us we will give you twice, or even three times the compensation. Then we'll take our leave now."
"Good bye."
"Let's see each other again! Definitely!"
[Phew… that steel like human.]
[Let's not see each other again, Feyta.]
Kang HaJin, who was clear with his finishing, and Na YuNa, who clung to him even though it had been a little since they even met. Finishing farewell with the two contrasting people, Yu IlHan watched them disappear over the horizon. Until the point that he was sure that the passvie concealment would activate again.
And when he became sure of that, he spoke in a delighted voice.
"Then should I evolve the Resting skill now!?"
[How can there be such a my-pace human…?]
It seemed that the conversation they had until now couldn't affect Yu IlHan at all. One could only marvel at Yu IlHan's train of thought, thinking, and doing what he wants.
However, perhas this was the source of power that made Yu IlHan endure for 1000 years? While thinking that, Erta smiled and decided to look at his work.
Author's notes
Chapter isn't over yet.
x key: the key pressed when paying respects… (T/N: I looked it up, apparrently, it's from Call of Duty)
Translator's notes
I wonder how priest-classes get their exp… if you heal without being in a party, then… Or is the heal not effective if not in the same party…? Let's leave the difficult stuff to the Akashic Record…
Yet another sponsored chapter. That's the end of the sponsored chapters. Unlike with GoM and Coder… I will try to keep this work up, despite my busy schedule. Just… don't donate too much, I still have a life to live (Yeah, like hell I do)
Translator : Chamber
[Hearts of sleeping 2nd class monsters 500/500]
[Troll's blood 500/500 liters]
[Good sleep 100/100 hours]
[3rd class monster's magic stone 1/1]
Yu IlHan's eyes looking at the text that appeared on his retina were shining. There won't be anything more beautiful than this. The Grand Canyon was nothing compared to this.
"So, what do I do now?"
[Like earning experience after killing a monster, and going through mana crafting by consuming a magic stone, you have to evolve the Resting skill to the next level by offering the materials you've gathered. Concentrate with your eyes closed. You just have to do the same thing as when you selected your job.]
At these kind of moments, he could only obediently follow Erta's words. Yu IlHan slowly closed his eyes and concentrated.
The change occurred soon. The materials inside his Cross Bag flew out by themselves and arranged themselves in mid air, before the Highland Troll Boss' magic stone at the center emitted light to envelop all of them.
The process of simple materails becoming a new and great record, which Yu IlHan could not see through, required much endurance.
Skill evolution originally was only possible when a skill was levelled up to the max, so Erta also looked at that scene with an excited heart. Moreover, it was no ordinary skill but an SSS-tier acquiring difficulty skill that was evolving!
[All materials fuse into a single record.]
[You absorb the record. Resting skill evolves.]
He felt as if hot lava was flowing into his heart. A violent and strange pain, which Yu IlHan had never experienced in his life, overwhelmed him. It was as if an update was applied to his existence itself.
[You have acquired Transcendent Regeneration skill. You will recover physical and mental damage quickly the moment you receive a strong shock. As of skill level 1 right now, you can regenerate a finger instantly even if it's blown away. Once activated, you cannot activate it again until you have recovered sufficient amount of energy via rest. The original abilities of the Resting skill are maintained.]
"Hey, isn't this."
[Congratulations in acquring an EX-tier training difficulty skill.]
"I knew this would happen."
Yu IlHan sighed.
Regenerating lost body parts was definitely a good ability, but the condition to reactivate weighed on his mind.
Moreover, he could only regenerate a single finger as of now, so if he wanted to survive even after his heart was pierced, or his brain was destroyed, he didn't know how much he had to train.
Even so, what was definite was that this skill was definitely an exceptional skill, which he would painfully train and learn without regrets.
"It really is an exceptional skill, to the point that you would emphasize it so much."
[How is it? It helps, right?]
"Yeah, yeah."
Yu IlHan laughed when he saw Erta being so proud. Then, he stood up.
"Then shall I fulfill the job advancement requirements now?"
The most difficult obstacle in his advancement, killing a 3rd class monster in a surprise attack was already fulfilled. Now, he only had to kill 100 2nd class monsters with surprise attacks. As he had done so until now, it was nothing new.
[Rookie Reaper, the criteria for advancing is really psychotic. Who else, other than you, could fulfill this?]
"That should be exactly why it came to me. Okay, then, let's go."
[Let's.]
The scorpions couldn't even find Yu IlHan so they couldn't ambush him. As they did not appear, Yu IlHan's target could only be the trolls.
The problem was that, strangely, the action patterns of the trolls have changed quite a bit.
{Troool, looking for enemy.}
{Troll moves. Troll slow}
{Troll, Troll.}
"What's up with them? They are like middle schoolers at the end of holidays."
The trolls, whose trademark was literally resting and sleeping, were walking around the highland. Perhaps it was because he troll boss died by Yu IlHan's hands, and they are moving for revenge?
{Troll wants to rest.}
{Troll tired.}
"No, I don't think those pathetic things would do that."
[Send them away quickly,]
There is an unsolved secret in this dungeon. While instinctively thinking that, Yu IlHan ambushed the troll. Now, he didn't have to wait for the troll to sleep to attack, since killing the troll in a surprise attack would fulfill the requirements.
Trolls had no habit of moving around in a group, so Yu IlHan calmly cleaned them out one by one and progressed with his advancement requirements.
"Ah, really."
Only people who experienced having their meat cut off while eating knows this feeling. If the supply of meat wasn't refilled, that moment comes suddenly, and emptily.
Even so, beef, which the grilling time was short, was alright, but how could people only eat beef?
Yu IlHan's situation right now was exactly like that. He could hunt 1 troll every 10 minutes before, but now, he had to wonder around for 1 hour if he was unlucky.
"Erta-emon. Do something."
[That 'something' isn't possible.]
When he only killed 78 trolls over 2 days, Yu IlHan started becoming annoyed. What annoyed him more was that, even the trolls he saw rarely, were showing strange actions.
{Troll doesn't want to die.}
{Should troll run? It's bothersome. But wants to live. Dillema keeps paining troll.}
{Will all trolls die?}
{Troll wants to go back.}
The unfamiliarity that Yu IlHan felt after killing the troll boss. The thought that there maybe another boss-tier monster that lords above the troll boss and the Giant Death Stalker.
The wondering actions of the trolls he saw from time to time and their mutterings gathered to turn his suspicion into assurance.
"Is something like this possible?"
[Akashic Record definitely said it was the Highland Troll Boss. That means that there should be no other troll monsters above them.]
"You're saying that it's not a troll but another monster, right?"
3rd day. killing the 97th troll with a surprise attack, Yu IlHan lit up a campfire and was eating the Highland Troll Boss' front leg meat while discussing with Erta.
[The probability is quite high. The possibility that, like the group of scorpions and the group of trolls have been dragged into this dungeon together, a higher ranking monster has been dragged into this dungeon.]
"Perhaps it ruled over trolls and scorpions at the same time?"
[You're thinking that because you saw that the trolls were moving as if they had an objective, right?]
"That's one reason, but I thought that when the Highland Troll Boss appeared so naturally while the Giant Death Stalker was attacking that couple. At that time, I thought 'no way' and didn't think more about it, but since it has come to this, I'm becoming more and more suspicious."
[That's quite possible.]
The angel above his head seem to reply that way, before heaving a sigh and speaking to him.
[Yu IlHan, I'm sorry to say this just before you have almost fulfilled the requirements for job advancement, but I think it's better to leave this dungeon now.]
"Yeah, I also think so."
He had the confidence to crash a normal danger head on. However, not more than that. The unknown becomes an element that stimulates his adventurous mind, but the situation becoming more and more mysterious was a completely different story.
Simply put, the risk has become too big.
"I should return. 2nd class monsters should be all over Earth right now."
[Although, the fact that 2nd class monsters are all over Earth right now pains me.]
Exchanging bitter jokes, the two started to go back. He could advance if he killed only 3 more trolls with a surprise attack, but as he had decided to retreat, Yu IlHan's actions were truly daring and firm.
However, a problem soon occurred. Although there are words that climbing up and climbing down a mountain is different, how could going back the way they came be different? Looking back to the path that he had walked, it had already become an unfamiliar scene to Yu IlHan.
"Don't you think the road changed a little?"
[What a coincidence. I also think the same.]
"Use your angel powers."
[I already told you, but I cannot use my powers as a higher existence properly.]
Even though she said that, Erta used a little bit of her powers to search for the dungeon's entrance. A little, so it wouldn't go against Heaven's law. As a result, there was one fact that she could find out.
[The entrance disappeared.]
"Can you say that again, miss higher existence?"
[The entrance disappeared.]
Erta was in extreme panic. Even she didn't know how such a thing came about. It was because in her life as an angel, there was never such a case.
[What is this? How did this come about?]
"Calm down."
[I can't calm down. This is something I've never seen before. Can I not panic?]
"I said calm down."
When Erta panicked while grabbing Yu IlHan's hair, he grabbed her and placed her on top of his palm. Time passed with her meeting eyes with Yu IlHan. Erta finally seemed to realize that she wasn't alone in this place.
How was her mentality so weak even though she was a higher existence? Yu IlHan realized more that higher existences weren't as almighty as they seem.
[I calmed down now. Now I should do what I can do.]
Erta was sure that the situation was abnormal, and decided to contact Heaven, However, while she brought her angel's ring out as always to contact other angels, she realized a more shocking fact.
[The communication doesn't work.]
"Maybe this region is outside your area."
[There cannot be a place outside the area of the communication of the angel's rings. If there is one, there is only one possibility.]
Fuu, Yu IlHan heaved a deep breath.
What should have come, had finally come
After resolving himself, he urged Erta.
"Say it."
Following Yu IlHan, Erta also shortly took a deep breath. Then, she hesitated as if she didn't like to say that word, before spitting that word carefully, as if exposing her embarrasing parts.
[Abandoned World.]
"That's quite the unpleasant word."
Only one element made Yu IlHan unpleasant.
Just who, abandoned that world?
[I told you that we are managing a huge number of worlds. God wants all worlds to be maintained, and as such, God gives out the races who manage that world, such as humans, quests, in other words, power.]
"Like he did with humans on Earth."
[Yes, like that. However, you should know from the things that happened on Earth, but not all things go naturally.]
"Yes."
Yu IlHan could not earn the opportunity to go to another world, monsters became unimaginably stronger, and even an Overflow occurred once already. There would be other problems occurring on Earth in the future.
[Whether it's humans or elves, if they, the main axis of the world, become too strong, then it's still alright. Monsters, due to their characteristics, can only keep appearing, and animals other than monsters keep breeding. Even if the balance of a world is destroyed, it doesn't matter that much.]
"If it's the monsters who become too strong?"
[We help humans and other intelligent races to the last, with all our effort, but that doesn't mean that we can annihilate the monsters ourselves. And as such, there are cases where they lose against monsters, and sometimes, if it's serious, they would die out.]
Yu IlHan felt that he knew without listening to the rest.
"...If that happens, you abandon the world."
[A world with no development cannot evolve any more, and the monsters, who lost their enemies, free themselves of their shackles and eat each other. Such a world loses its future. And at that time, Heaven finally abandons a world.]
It was natural. Yu IlHan knew plenty that angels cannot proactively interfere with the phenomena occurring on Earth. He also knew that God was doing the best to help the humans on Earth.
However, even so, Yu IlHan became dejected when he heard that.
[As all communication with Heaven was severed, even if an angel drifts into that world, it becomes impossible to contact other angels.]
"However, this is not an Abandoned World, but a dungeon on Earth."
[Yes. It should be.]
This was the moment when Erta gave out her reply in a worried voice.
Swoosh.
Without any signs, an object dropped towards her head. Immediately after seeing that, Yu IlHan covered her and rolled on the ground.
Right after that, a gigantic scythe embedded itself on the ground with a frightening 'psh' sound. This was an attack with a frightening strength.
{'New record', found.}
And its voice could be heard.
Yu IlHan immediately raised his head to see its figure. Standing with its scythe still stuck on the ground, it was a monster which had a thin body with a black hood as if materializing the figure of a deathgod that Yu IlHan was about to become.
If there was one thing that Yu IlHan was relieved about, it was that the despair that he would never win against it, didn't come. It was probably because its concealment was a skill that Yu IlHan had already mastered. In other words, it was the same case with the leopard.
It was not a 4th class monster. It was definitely much stronger than the Highland Troll Boss, but it was definitely still a 3rd class monster.
However, he couldn't be optimistic about the situation. It couldn't find Yu IlHan, but found Erta instead of him and attacked, and as Yu IlHan covered her, his concealment deactivated.
After realizing that, Yu IlHan muttered with a sigh.
"See? You're an embarrassing angel as always."
[Yu IlHan. If we survive this, I will give you the reward for saving a higher existence.]
Erta replied.
[So please don't die. I request of you.]
{Record, give me!}
This was the start of the true boss fight.
Author's notes
As Erta said before, her power is hugely weakened right now.
The baits are finally being solved a litle.
Beef is good, beef is… Excluding its price, everything else. T^T (T/N: Beef is expensive in Korea)
Translator's notes
Yet another sponsored chapter! This just came in when I was about to sleep yesterday…
Hmm. in spoilers, I should have told people that higher existences can bring out all the power they want if they want to protect themselves. But I guess this part has to do with her being an angel, and cannot bring out her full powers. I.e. she would be fine if she was attacked by the same monster on Earth.
Translator : Chamber